Leader Ecowas: the refinery of dance symbolizes hope for Africa

In towering the free lekki area on the margins of the Atlantic, the oil refinery is more than a simple engineering company; It has become a symbol of ambition, vision and industrial self -sufficiency for an entire continent. Now, that promise has been affirmed by the highest political and economic bloc of the Region, by the economic community of States of West Africa (Ecowas).

During a high -level visit to the cutting -edge structure of 650,000 barrels per day, the president of the Ecowas Commission, dr. Omar alieu Touray, told the refinery a lighthouse of hope for the future of Africa and a clear demonstration of what the private sector can reach in the push for regional industrialization. The delegation also included Commissioner Ecowas for infrastructure, energy and digitization, Sediko Douka; Commissioner of internal services, Prof. NaziFi Abdullahi Darma; Director of the private sector/SMEs, Dr. Tony Luka Elumelu; And the head of the staff of Dr. Touray, Hon Abdou Kolley, among others.
“What I have seen today gives me a lot of hope and all those who do not believe in Africa should come here. Visiting here will give you more hope because this is exactly what our continent should focus on you,” observed dr. Touray, visibly moved by the scale and the refinement of the structure. “We have seen something that I could not have imagined, and really the ability in all areas is impressive. We congratulate Alhaji Dangote for this trust in Africa because I think you do it only when you have confidence, and it has a vision for Africa, and this is what we should work to encourage”.

Dr. Touray has observed that the refinery, which produces fuel for the Euro V standard, is essential to allow the EcoWas region to satisfy its 50 ppm sulfur limit for oil products: a standard of many imported fuels are unable to satisfy, placing risks for health and the environment in the Member States.
“We are still importing products below our standard when a regional company like Dangote can meet and overcome these requirements,” he said. “The private sector must take the guide in the ECOWAS industrialization.”
The president of the Ecowas Commission used the visit to ask for greater collaboration between governments and the private sector, underlining that political decisions must reflect the real challenges and opportunities found by African industrialists.

“We believe that our visit is also an opportunity to listen to Mr. Dangote directly, on what the private sector expects from the Ecowas community,” observed dr. Touray, observing that while Ecowas celebrates its 50th anniversary, the community is more committed than ever to bring the private sector to the table, to listen to their prospects and to understand how to create an environment that works for them.
“We cannot continue to make decisions on behalf of the private sector at a distance. Visits like this provide us with a first -hand experience and a direct vision of the challenges they face: the challenges that the authorities and government officials must work to face,” he added.
Dr. Touray said that time is mature for the region to pursue an industrial strategy capable of dealing with deep challenges such as youth unemployment, poverty and insecurity.
“We often talk about the eradication of poverty and youth occupation, but the only government may not have the ability to achieve these objectives. Only the private sector can provide the scale of the impact required, and it is essential that we listen to them, we understand how these objectives can be achieved and identify the bottles that face so that they can face effectively.
He promised full support of the Commission to allow regional giants such as Dangote Group to access the wider EcoWas markets and urged other African nations to follow the example of Nigeria by building infrastructures that serve the continent, not only the individual countries.
“Once again, I congratulate the group of crane and I commit that the Ecowas commission will do everything to open the Ecowas market for them, if not the entire African continent.”
The president of the Dangote group, Aliko Dangote, led the Ecowas delegation on a detailed tour of the structure, explaining the challenges and milestones involved in giving life to the largest single -training refinery in the world.
He reiterated his long -standing position according to which the continuous dependence on Africa on imported goods is unsustainable and hinders economic sovereignty.
“As long as we continue to import what we can produce, we will remain underdeveloped,” said Dangote. “This refinery is proof that we can build for ourselves on a scale, according to global standards”.
He observed that the refinery of Dangote is fully equipped to meet the oil needs of Nigeria and the entire region of West Africa, contrasting the statements that the structure would not have produced enough for the local and regional demand.
“There have been many statements that suggest that we do not even produce enough to satisfy the needs of Nigeria, so how could we provide other countries of West Africa? But now I am here to see reality for themselves and, above all, to encourage other nations to undertake industrial projects on a large scale in the same way,” he said.

Noting that Africa will benefit great benefit by encouraging trade among its countries, in particular through the addition of value to the abundant resources of the continent, Dangote has underlined how the refinery has helped Nigeria to reduce the costs of refined products and production costs in many sectors of the economy.
“Last year, when we started diesel production, we were able to reduce the price from N1,700 to N1.100 to once and, starting today, the price crashed further. This reduction had a significant impact in various sectors. He supported the industries, benefited from those of us minerals and provided vital compensation for the agricultural sector. The effect was of great repair,” he said.
He also observed that the Nigerians are benefiting from local refining since the price of petrol has significantly decreased compared to neighboring countries.
“In neighboring countries, the average petrol price is about $ 1 per liter, which is N1.600. But here at our refinery, we are selling between N815 and N820. Many Nigerians do not realize that they are currently paying only 55% of what others in the region are paying for petrol. We will also have a real for them, who are paying us for the oil.
He stressed that this price reduction is the direct result of local refining, which continues to improve the accessibility of fuel, while improving energy safety and reducing dependence on imports.